Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Fred J. Wegner
69, 400 S. 9th St., Clear Lake, died Friday, March 22, 2002 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services were held Monday, March 25, at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. The Rev. James Grabitski officiated. Interment was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
Fred was born Sept. 4, 1932, in Niles Township (Rural Charles City), Floyd County, Iowa. He was the son of Fredrick W. and Edith (Waidelich) Wegner. Fred was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Charles City. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1950. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict, 1952 to 1956. He was stationed in Selma, Ala. Fred was a flight instructor with the Link Training. Fred married
Betty Grap Feb. 13, 1953 in Charles City, Iowa. Following the service he farmed in the rural Charles City area. Fred and Betty moved to Clear Lake in 1971 where he was the District Manager for Vigortone Feeds and Crows Seed Corn. He was the General manager for the Super 8 Motel for 18 years until he retired in 1996.
Fred's pride and joy was spending time with his family, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Fred enjoyed traveling, collecting antiques, coins and stamps. He will be loved and remembered for his wonderful sense of humor right up until the end. Fred was a member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Mason City.
Fred is survived by his wife Betty Wegner, Clear Lake; five children, Fred David Wegner and his wife, Ann, Clear Lake, Pat Wistey and her husband, Bill, Clear Lake, Leann Yakle and her husband, Jerry, Albert Lea, Minn., Nancy Brinkman and her husband, Matt, Clear Lake, and Paul Wegner and his wife, Kristy, Zomba, Malawi, Africa; nine grandchildren, Matt Wegner and his wife, Cara, Lisa Wegner and her special friend, Joby Brogden, Marshall Weeks, Rachel Wistey, Zach Wistey, Adam Brinkman, Riley Brinkman, Jason Wegner and Gabrielle Wegner; one great-grandchild, Kallie Brogden; and one brother, Russell Wegner and his wife, Eileen, Charles City.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Ellen Larson
83, of Clear Lake, died Friday, March 22, 2002 at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.
No services will be held. According to Mrs. Larson's wishes, her body has been cremated. Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th Street, is in charge of the arrangements.
Dorothy was born Sept. 23, 1918 in Douglas, Wyo., the daughter of Victor and Lucille (Hall) DeMott. She graduated from Algona High School in 1936 and was united in marriage to Arlo Larson on Feb. 12, 1939 in Algona. Dorothy has been a resident of the Oakwood Care Center since December 1995.
Dorothy is survived by a sister, Betty Jean Monaco, Payson, Az., and several nieces and nephews.
She will be inurned at the columbarium in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa, by her husband.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1990; her parents; one sister, Delores; and one brother, Victor.
Eva Blanche Washburn
98, 210 West 10th Ave North Clear Lake, died Monday, March 25, 2002, at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 28, at the Regular Baptist Church 314 N. 6th St., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Steven Cox officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. Memorials may be made to the Regular Baptist Church, Clear Lake.
Eva was born Nov. 20, 1903, in Albany, Ill., the daughter of William Watson and Carrie Josephine (Mickey) Jones. Eva moved with her parents at an early age to Waterloo, Iowa, and attended West High School.
Eva married
Donald E. Washburn Dec. 8, 1921 at St. Peters, Minn., moving to Mason City and then to Clear Lake in 1928.
Eva enjoyed sewing, handwork and reading. Eva also taught Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the Clear Lake Regular Baptist Church and a member of Bible Study group since 1962.
Eva is survived by her son, Leonard Washburn and his wife, Geraldine, of Clear Lake; two grandsons, Lowell Washburn and his wife, Carol, Clear Lake, and Sterling Washburn and his wife, Cindy, Clear Lake; four great-grandchildren, Matt Washburn, Clear Lake; Jennifer Stover and her husband, Paul, St. Louis Park, Minn., Justin Washburn, Des Moines, Iowa, and Melissa Washburn, Ames, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; two brothers, Teddy and Laveral Jones; and one great-grandson, Travis Washburn.
Ronne Lee Newlon, 56, died April 24, 2002 at his residence in Mesa, Az. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, at the Evangelical Free Church, 1310 Hwy 18 West, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Chuck Smith officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth, Minn. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Pheasants Forever.
Ronne was born July 7, 1945 in Berkley, Calif., the son of Joie Pat and Adeline H. (Miller) Newlon. Ronne graduated in 1963 from Blue Earth High School in Blue Earth, Minn. Ronne married
Melicent Madsen, Aug. 16, 1964, at East Chain Lutheran Church, East Chain, Minn. They lived in Blue Earth and operated Kreme King Drive Inn until 1967 when they moved to Atlantic, Iowa, where he owned the A&W Drive Inn. In 1977 they moved to Forest City, Iowa, and started Midwest Equipment Company until 1980 and then purchased a restaurant in Estherville, Iowa, known as Grandma's Touch, continuing to 1987 when he moved to Clear Lake and operated the Waterfront until 1997. In 1994 he met his future wife, Dawn Torkelson, and they moved to Meza, Az. in 1997, where he was a restaurant manager for Sonic Corporation. Ronne & Dawn were married
October 9, 2001 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Ronne loved hunting, trapping and playing the ponies. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever, Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge in Atlantic, Iowa, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Ronne is survived by his wife, Dawn, of Mesa, Az.; his mother, Adeline Arnt, Mesa, Az.; three children, foster son, Steve and his wife, Gail Harris, Denison, Iowa, son, Christopher Newlon and his wife, Carey, Highlands Ranch, Colo., and daughter, Carleen Whetstine and her husband, Chris, Gilbert, Az. One brother, Gene Newlon and his wife, Verna, Hebron, Ky.; a sister-in-law, Monica Torkelson, Garner, Iowa; in-laws, Ken and Kelly Bendickson, Joice, Iowa, and Roger Torkelson, Forest City; eight grandchildren, Tyson Harris, Brea Nichols, Chase Harris, Cody Harris, Halle Whetstine, Noah Whetstine, Collin Newlon and Chase Newlon.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Gregory A. Benoit, 56, of Clear Lake, died Monday, April 22, 2002 at his home. A memorial graveside service was held Tuesday, April 30, 11 a.m. at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. As to his wishes, the body has been cremated. Memorials may be made to the Veterans Administration P.T.S.D. Clinic.
Greg was born Oct. 1, 1945, at Detroit, Mich., the son of Joseph and Anastasia (DeCormier) Benoit. He attended Wayne State University and following college entered the United States Army on Aug. 2, 1966. He served five years as a combat helicopter pilot with the rank of CW2.He served in the Republic of Vietnam. While in the service he earned a National Defense Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with sixty devices, Silver Star Medal, Army Aviation Badge, Air Medal with 1st through 27th Oak Leaf Clusters, Expert Badge, 45 Caliber Pistols and M16 Rifle. After the Vietnam tour he was transferred to Germany and promoted to rank of Captain. Following the service he lived in California, Nevada, Michigan and moved to Clear Lake the summer of 2001.
Greg is survived by two brothers, Philip Benoit of California and Anthony Benoit of Nevada; four sisters, Mary Nadeau and Cecilia Gram of Michigan, Annette Erwin of Nevada, and Cynthia Branner of California.
Greg was preceded in death by his parents.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Mae (Hutchinson) Kelling, 88, died Friday, May 3, 2002 at the Oakwood Care Center where she was staying after a fall at her home resulted in a broken hip on Palm Sunday. Funeral services were held Monday at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiated. Burial services was held at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Waverly, Iowa. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Margaret was born in Frederika, Iowa on Sept. 2, 1913, the daughter of Amos and Flora (Johnson) Hutchinson. The family spent a number of years farming northwest of Tripoli, Iowa. When her father became ill they moved back to Frederika, where he died in February of 1920. She attended grade school in Frederika until 1927 when she, her mother, brother Leland and sister Grace moved to Waverly, Iowa. She graduated from Waverly High School in 1932. After graduation she was a clerk in a Waverly variety store until 1943.
On Sept. 16, 1940 she was united in marriage to Orlin Kelling, at St. Paul's Lutheran in Waverly, with the Rev. R.C. Schlueter officiating. Margaret continued to be very active in the church ladies circles at St. Paul's Lutheran in Waverly. She was a secretary at Wartburg College for some time. In 1964 the family moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, joined Nazareth Church and was again active in circles. Margaret volunteered many hours for more than 15 years with the Red Cross in the Waterloo area. In 1980 she and husband Orlin retired to Clear Lake and joined Zion Lutheran, again joining a circle and being active in church affairs. Margaret spent her life dedicated to her family and found time to serve the altar guild, Young at Heart, and quilting ladies.
Survivors include her husband, Orlin, of Clear Lake; son, Darrell and his wife, Delores, Rochester, Minn., Larry and wife, Dianne, Cedar Falls, Iowa; two grandsons, John, and David and his wife, Donell; one granddaughter, Amy, and her husband, Brad Knox; and one great-grandson, Alex Kelling; one sister, Grace Bodecker, Waverly, Iowa.
Her parents and her brother Leland preceded her in death. Memorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church for the Margaret Kelling Memorial Fund.
Gary G. Vala, 60, of 713 S. 13th St., Clear Lake, died Friday, May 3, 2002 at his residence. Funeral Mass Celebration of Life was Tuesday, May 7, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Msgr. Joseph Slepicka officiating. Graveside services were at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Roseville, Iowa with Msgr. Walter Brunkan officiating. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Gary was born Aug. 29, 1941 the son of Charles and Pauline (Nikolas) Vala. He graduated from Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Charles City, Iowa in 1959. He attended college in Brookings, S.D.
Gary moved to Sterling, Ill. where he worked in a steel mill. He served in the United States Air Force from 1963-1966 at Lackland Air Force Base. Following the service he moved back to Charles City to farm the family farm and he also worked at the Oliver plant in Charles City. He later worked at Sarah Lee in New Hampton and in 1974 moved to Clear Lake, Iowa. He worked at E.F. Johnson as Maintenance foreman, later Sperry-Univac/Unisys, until their relocation. He was known as the Clear Lake Handyman and could fix anything.
Gary married
Pam Pearce on Dec. 27, 1969 in the Catholic church in Nashua, Iowa.
Gary is a former member of Clear Lake Knights of Columbus.
Gary is survived by his two children, Sheila Anderson and her husband, Lundy, Fairfield, Iowa and Kurt Vala, Concord, N.H.; his mother, Pauline Vala, Chares City, Iowa; grandson, Spencer Minette, Concord, N.H.; and his former wife, Pam Vala, Clear Lake. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Vala; and brother, Father Ralph R. Vala.
James Francis Connell, 78, longtime Clear Lake businessman, died Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at the Muse Norris Inpatient Unit-North Iowa in Mason City.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at the First Congregational Church in Clear Lake with the Rev. Thomas Healey officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel. Interment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the First Congregational Church, 205 West 10th Avenue North, Clear Lake; Hospice of North Iowa, 232 2nd Street SE, Mason City or the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Insurance Exchange Building, Suite 444, 505 5th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Jim was born Nov. 27, 1923 in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Agnes (Stockman) Connell. He graduated from St. Patrick's Parochial School in Iowa City, attended the University of Iowa and then volunteered for the U.S. Army in World War II. He served as an enlisted instructor in the Parachute School in Fort Benning, Ga, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry, in June 1945 and served in the European theater. He was recalled to active duty in 1951 and served as a rifle platoon leader with the 3rd Division in Korea until he was discharged as 1st Lieutenant in 1952.
He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1949 and worked at Lampert Lumber Company in Iowa City. He married
Marcia Jean Ashland Sept. 3, 1949 and they moved to Clear Lake in 1950, where he worked at Woodford-Wheeler Lumber Company. He served as general manager there for over 50 years.He was general manager of Lake Development Company from 1954 until his death. Jim was a member of the Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company Board of Directors since 1962, serving several years as treasurer. He served on the Clear Lake Bank and Trust Board of Directors from 1969 to 2001.
Throughout the years, he was active in a number of community organizations and served as president of the following organizations: Clear Lake Economic Development Corporation (founding member and a board member for many years), Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Clear Lake Rotary Club and Toastmasters. He also served as a director on the All Veterans Social Center Board and is a longtime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of Forty and Eight and the Masonic Lodge. Jim also was chairman of the Board of Deacons, First Congregational Church and was a director for the Northwestern Lumbermen's Association, a national trade organization.
He was one of four local businessmen who re-opened the Surf in 1970 after it had been closed to ensure it would continue as a community asset. That group owned it for 24 years. Jim and his family ensured that one of the last remaining lakeshore woodland properties on Clear Lake remain undeveloped and open to the public by donating a permanent conservation easement for the Woodford-Ashland Lone Tree Woods Nature Area to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
Jim is survived by his wife, Marcia, of Clear Lake; daughter, Sarah Ohlrogge, her husband, Dr. Dennis Ohlrogge, of Onalaska, Wis.; daughter, Susan Connell-Magee, her husband, Kevin G. Magee, of Madison, Wis.; daughter, Janet Lovell and her husband, Thomas Lovell, of Clear Lake; two grandsons, Christopher Lovell of Clear Lake and Erik Ohlrogge of Onalaska; two brothers, William Connell (Dorothe) of Iowa City and Robert Connell (Evelyn) of Reno, Nev.; numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Joseph Connell and Thomas Connell; and a sister, Marie Johnson.
Loren Eugene (Al) Alsvig, 61, of Clear Lake, Iowa died Saturday, May 4, 2002 at the V.A. Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, May 8, 1:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake Cemetery. The Rev. Tom Balm will officiate. Military honors will be provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.
Loren was born Sept. 17, 1940 in Clarion, Iowa, the son of Ingvald and Gertrude (Amdahl) Alsvig.He grew up in Clarion and joined the military services in 1958. He served his country for 20 years as a staff sergeant in the Marine Corp's until his retirement. He was in the following fields, Okinawa, Vietnam and the United States.
Loren married
Marilyn Schnell in 1960. Together they had two children, Kathy and David. He married
MaryAnn Johnson in 1971. Together they had a son, Brett. He has lived in Clear Lake doing small engine repair and propeller rebuilding.
Loren is survived by his daughter, Kathy Janssen, and her special friend, Jim Jackson, Clear Lake; two sons, David Alsvig, Boerne, Texas, and Brett Alsvig, Lake Forest, Calif.; one step-son, Todd Johnson, Topeka, Kan.; a sister, Maridean Baker, Marshalltown, Iowa; his grandchildren, Troy Janssen, Mason City, Iowa, Michael Janssen, Clear Lake, Adam Janssen, Clear Lake, and Eric Alsvig, Boerne, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Aaron Janssen, Mason City, and Sarah Johnson, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Mary Ann.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel,Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.
Pastor Arnold F. Boehnke, 90, of Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Garner, Iowa, died Friday, May 3, 2002 at Penrose Hospital, Colorado Springs.
His funeral is tentatively set for 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 9 at St. John's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Carl Hedberg officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Cataldo Funeral Home of Garner is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Joint Seminary Fund, LCMS Foundation, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63722, Attention: Janelle Sloerke, or Lutheran Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 46, Sterling Heights, MI 48311-0046
Pastor Arnold F. Boehnke, the son of Carol August and Matilda (Dorow) Boehnke, was born Oct. 3, 1911 at Garner. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church. Pastor Boehnke attended St. John's Parochial School before entering his ministerial training at Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota. He spent two years as vicar at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Knoke, Iowa, teaching eight grades in a one-room Lutheran school and tending to pastoral duties for the congregation. He graduated from the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., in 1937. On Sept. 5, 1937 he married
Alice Helena Roenfanz at St. John's Lutheran Church, Garner. During his years in the ministry, Pastor Boehnke served parishes in Knoke, Ft. Dodge, and Lake City, Iowa; Great Falls, Montana; Jefferson, Iowa; as Missionary-at-large for Leadville, Colo., and the surrounding areas; Ogden, Utah; and returned to serve Leadville Colorado; and served First Lutheran Church, Salida, Colo., until he retired from the active ministry in 1976. While in Lake City, Iowa, he served as circuit counsel for and as pastoral counselor for the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. In the District, he was a member of the Youth Board and Board of Christian Education. He served as chairman of the Family Life Committee and the Board of Appeals for the Iowa District West and the Colorado Districts. While in Leadville, Pastor Boehnke served as chairman of the county CROP program and Lake County Board of Health; was a member of the Mental Health Clinic and the Family Planning Committee. He served as marriage counselor and counselor at alcoholics and as a board member of the State Hospital. Upon retiring, Pastor Boehnke served as vacancy pastor in Colorado for the congregations of Golden, Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells, Sugar City, Rocky Ford, and Bennett, as well as Shepherd of the Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rev. Boehnke is survived by his wife, Alice, of Colorado Springs; two sons, the Rev. Richard Boehnke and his wife, Gayle of Ortonville, Minn., and the Rev. David Boehnke and his wife, Lynn, of Wheaton, Minn.; a daughter, Lavonne Lehmpuhl and her husband, William, of Colorado Springs; also, fourteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Arthur Boehnke of Garner; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Albert, Charles, William and Herman Boehnke; and one sister, Tillie Hinrichs.
Leo Henry Klein, 84, of 116 7th Ave. N., Clear Lake, Iowa died Thursday, May 9, 2002 at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. Funeral Services were Tuesday, May 14, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Msgr. Robert Hogan officiating. Interment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery, with Military honors by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
Leo was born Nov. 6, 1917 at New Hampton, Iowa the son of Henry and Anna (Gardner) Klein. He attended and graduated from Thompson High School in 1937.
Leo took up the occupation of a meat cutter and worked for National Food Stores. He was inducted in the U.S. Army Sept 2, 1942. He attended the Automatic Electric Telephone School, Chicago, Ill. to become a teletype operator. He served overseas in the campaigns at Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He received the EAMETO and Good Conduct medals. He was discharged on Nov. 4, 1945, rank TEC 4.
Following the service he returned to Clear Lake and continued employment with National Food Stores. He married
Doris Smiley on Oct. 30, 1948 in Clear Lake, Iowa. They moved to Ames, Iowa for two years where he managed the meat market, moved back to manage a market in Mason City and returned to Clear Lake to work for Jensen's West Side, retiring in 1979.
Leo was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, Iowa.
Leo is survived by his wife, Doris, Clear Lake; four sisters, Rosa Fleming, Marie McClintock, Margaret Wellen all of Mason City, Iowa and Elizabeth Casey, Terre Haute, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and older brother, Joseph Klein.
Stanley B. Risvold, 71, of 17396 Kingbird Ave., Mason City, Iowa died Wednesday, May 8, 2002 of a massive heart attack at Willow Pointe Assisted Living, Mason City. The funeral service was Monday, May 13, 2002 at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating. Following the service Stanley was cremated. Memorials may be made to the Stanley B. Risvold Memorial Fund.
Stanley was born Jan. 26, 1931 in Spencer, Iowa, the son of Oscar and Effie J. (Knudtson) Risvold. He graduated from High View High School. He was enrolled at Iowa State University but due to the Korean War he enlisted in the United States Army. He married
Norma M. Pedersen Sept. 16, 1951 in Linn Grove, Iowa. After serving in the military in Fairbanks, Ak. he moved back to the Linn Grove family farm, which he farmed for thirty years. Stanley also worked at Wilson Foods as a meat cutter for twenty years.
After retiring from farming Stanley moved to Minneapolis, Minn. where his son Robert lived. He worked as a security guard for Calhoun Towers for ten years. He retired and moved to Scottsdale, Az. where he enjoyed the sun and relaxation. In June of 2000 he moved to Mason City to be closer to his daughters and grandchildren.
Stanley handled his illness with great courage and dignity. He was a man of few words and expressed his love through his actions. He was an avid Twins and Diamondbacks fan. Stanley also enjoyed fishing, playing catch with his grandchildren, listening to music, traveling and he was known for his sense of humor.
Stanley is survived by his four children, Denise Vikturek and her husband, Dave, Mason City, Iowa, Rhonda Hasen and her husband, Adam, DelMar, Calif., Robert Risvold, Scottsdale, Az., and Lorna DiMarco and her husband, Nick, Clear Lake; four grandchildren, Aubrie Vikturek, Lauren Vikturek, Nicholas DiMarco and Antonio DiMarco; and one brother, Gordon Risvold and his wife, Delores, Sioux Rapids, Iowa. His parents preceded him in death.
